Provincial Comparative Advantages of Watermelon Production in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

[Objective]This study aimed to clarify the spatial patterns of comparative advantage of watermelon production in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, to pro-vide theoretical basis for the development of watermelon industry in China. [Method] Based on the agricultural statistics data of Guangxi and al over China, yield com-parative advantage （YCA） index, efficiency comparative advantage （ECA） index, scale comparative advantage （SCA） index, concentration ratio comparative advantage （CRCA） index, comprehensive comparative advantage （CCA） index, ratio of yield per unit area （RYPA） index and sowing area ratio （SAR） index were established and calculated to determine the watermelon production comparative advantages in 31 provinces （cities） in China. Spacial patterns of the comparative advantages were produced by using GIS software. [Result] Nine provinces Shandong, Henan, Anhui, Hebei, Hubei, Jiangsu, Hunan, Zhejiang and Guangxi were the dominant regions in watermelon production al over the country. The Central and Eastern China showed the integrated comparative advantage in watermelon production, while the Southern, Northeastern, Northern and Northwestern China can be considered as the potential places for watermelon production in future. Southwest China gave more priority to watermelon production, so the comparative advantages kept increasing here. [Con-clusion] Based on this study, watermelon production should be a prior consideration among the agricultural products in Guangxi. Related measures should be developed to optimize the regional distribution of watermelon in Guangxi and China to promote healthy competition in watermelon production.